# Thanks MLB, Opening Day should be in Japan! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 30, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217 "2004-03-30T01:30:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/1 "2004-03-30T01:30:16Z")
Let me get this straight. Major League Baseball, the national pastime of the United States is having their opening day in Japan. OK, I’ll deal with that as they could care less about the Cincinnati opening day tradition. However, the opening day game is only available on internet pay per view? I do actually get up around 5 am EST, I’d watch the game on my cable or…heaven forbid…broadcast tv. I’ll remind MLB that I will watch the minor leagues, college, or a little league team playing baseball. I doubt I’ll spend money at an MLB game this year. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/2 "2004-03-30T02:03:55Z")
I guess no TV people figured it was worth it to fly a crew all the way out there to broadcast a game at 5 AM and another at 10 PM. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/3 "2004-03-30T02:26:15Z")
They wouldn’t have to send a crew. Pick up the Japanese feed and have commentary done in the US. Similar to how they did for the World Cup. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/4 "2004-03-30T02:59:10Z")
Um…the game’s on ESPN 2. At 5 am. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/5 "2004-03-30T03:25:08Z")
Right. I came back to this thread to say the game IS on, but that’s taken care of, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/6 "2004-03-30T04:03:05Z")
Sorry for the slight hijack, but will the Yankees and Devil Rays be forced to carry the Ricoh logos on their uniforms, like the Yanks did against the Japanese teams? I’m not a Yankee fan, but it was very unnerving to see the classic pinstripes defiled with a sponsorship logo, and on the sides of their batting helmets. Did Steinbrenner get any Yen off of this? What’s next, last names on the back? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/7 "2004-03-30T04:16:35Z")
I doubt it. There’s a rule on the books that prohibits commercial advertisements on any part of the uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/8 "2004-03-30T04:51:45Z")
I guess I’ll watch a bit of it when I get up. I’m mostly a Twins fan, but it’ll be good to see my second favorite team playing – my second favorite team is whoever is playing the Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/9 "2004-03-30T05:49:43Z")
I wouldn’t even go so far as to say that baseball is America’s national pastime anymore. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/10 "2004-03-30T07:03:49Z")
As a liflelong Brewer’s fan I’ll say this. I have a bottle of Dom that will be opened the moment Bud Selig and his idiot daughter Wendy are no longer associated with baseball whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/11 "2004-03-30T12:06:24Z")
I feel for you, **duffer**. That’s gotta be rough. On the up side, the Yankees are losing to the D-Rays. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/12 "2004-03-30T12:20:56Z")
Where the heck are they playing? It looks like a converted soccer stadium, especially with those huge areas past the foul lines. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/13 "2004-03-30T12:25:02Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Sorry for the slight hijack, but will the Yankees and Devil Rays be forced to carry the Ricoh logos on their uniforms, like the Yanks did against the Japanese teams? I’m not a Yankee fan, but it was very unnerving to see the classic pinstripes defiled with a sponsorship logo, and on the sides of their batting helmets. Did Steinbrenner get any Yen off of this? What’s next, last names on the back? Just to keep you updated, I tuned in as B Williams came to the plate, and sure enough, a HUGE Ricoh logo was on his helmet. I’m telling you all right now. The NFL is king, NASCAR a close second and Selig has to die. At least in the US. Oh how I hope he dies. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/14 "2004-03-30T12:29:42Z")
Oh yeah, I forgot to add this to my earlier post: What the hell is Ricoh? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/15 "2004-03-30T12:34:48Z")
mainly copiers. (think Xerox but different comp) ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/16 "2004-03-30T12:44:19Z")
If they have ads on the sleeves and helmets in Japan, it’s only a matter of time before they are on the uniforms in the states. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/17 "2004-03-30T13:01:36Z")
> [@skutir](#): > > If they have ads on the sleeves and helmets in Japan, it’s only a matter of time before they are on the uniforms in the states. Again, Bud Selig is in charge, it will happen soon. Anyone else notice the am/pm bilboards behind home plate? Didn’t know they had convenience stores in Japan 😕 ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/18 "2004-03-30T13:52:34Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Again, Bud Selig is in charge, it will happen soon. > > Anyone else notice the am/pm bilboards behind home plate? Didn’t know they had convenience stores in Japan 😕 Oh god, you have no idea. Conbini are EVERYWHERE. am/pm, 7-11, Sunkus, Lawson Station, Family Mart, Ai-shop… I watched most of the game. I was happy to see the outcome, too. Although the Ricoh patches on the sleeves _were_ disconcerting. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/19 "2004-03-31T01:40:59Z")
> [@skutir](#): > > If they have ads on the sleeves and helmets in Japan, it’s only a matter of time before they are on the uniforms in the states. I don’t think the Japanese Leagues allow ads on the unforms during regular season games, either. Well, other than the names of the companies that own the teams (Yomiuri, Yakult, Chuunichi, Kintetsu and Seibu ain’t cities). ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217/20 "2004-03-31T02:18:02Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > I don’t think the Japanese Leagues allow ads on the unforms during regular season games, either. Well, other than the names of the companies that own the teams (Yomiuri, Yakult, Chuunichi, Kintetsu and Seibu ain’t cities). I wondered why the Yomiuri Giants played in the Tokyo Dome. Interesting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-mlb-opening-day-should-be-in-japan/237217.md?page=2)